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- Position Information
Arlington County , nationally recognized for Excellence and awarded re-accreditation by the American Correctional Association Commission (ACA), is now accepting applications for testing for Deputy Sheriff positions. In order to participate in testing, candidates will need to apply through this system (click on the word APPLY at the right margin of this job announcement to enter the application system). Applications will be reviewed daily and those who meet the selection criteria will receive email notifications inviting them to one of the testing sessions. A valid email address is required in order to receive correspondence regarding testing and the hiring process.
Employees in these positions work in all areas of the Sheriff's Office and may be assigned to any unit with daily interaction with inmates. New employees are initially assigned to our state of the art direct supervision Detention Facility. Deputies may rotate to other areas based on the needs of the Sheriff's Office. The majority of positions are assigned to the detention facility so the ability to transfer to other areas is minimal. Most employees work 12-hour fixed shifts (including days, nights, weekends and holidays) and 15 days per month. Deputies earn full salary and benefits while training at the Academy. The Detention Facility is accredited by the American Correctional Association (achieved by less than 4% of jails nationwide).
Specific duties include:Supervising and monitoring the daily activities of inmates to include security within housing units, inmate visits, booking/processing, program activities, food service, recreation and general work assignments;
Managing inmate behavior and using appropriate force as necessary;
Supervising inmates assigned to Inmate Work Programs;
Receiving and screening the public seeking admittance to the facility; and
Processing inmates' personal property and money.
Other duties and assignments include:
Court Security - secure courtrooms; monitor courts in session; escort prisoners to and from courts and the Detention Facility; perform security checks within the Courthouse; respond to security check problems and Courthouse incidents.
Warrant Process - serve legal papers; execute criminal warrants issued by the Court; take individuals into custody; and schedule and execute Court ordered evictions.
Transportation - transport inmates and other individuals in custody to/from other correctional facilities, hearings, medical facilities, doctor's appointments.
All assignments include writing reports and documenting incidents. The nature of the work necessitates an element of danger and requires physical exertion and the ability to make decisions under stress. Work is performed according to departmental policies and procedures and involves the potential for personal danger. The employee must be able to communicate effectively, solve problems, write concise reports, maintain good physical conditioning, and be able to act quickly and calmly as part of a team under potentially stressful conditions.- Selection Criteria
Minimum:
High school diploma or GED equivalent;
At least 21 years of age at the time of appointment or within 6 months of the 21st-birthday on the date of application;
Excellent physical condition;
U.S. citizen at the time of application;
Bondable for handling Commonwealth funds;
Possession of a valid driver's license from the applicant's place of residence;
Available for emergency calls and standby duty, overtime, and details outside the facility; and
Willing to work days, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays, and fixed 12-hour shifts.
- Special Requirements
Employees must successfully complete the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy (NVCJTA) within the first 12 months of employment. Successful completion includes passing all phases of academic, physical (e.g. running, defensive tactics), driving and firearms training. In-service training and firearms qualifications are job requirements throughout employment.
The Sheriff's Office incurs considerable financial investment in training a Deputy Sheriff. In return, the Sheriff's Office requires a 24-month commitment from its employees. This 24-month commitment begins after an employee has successfully completed the NVCJTA. If the employee terminates employment within one (1) year after the completion of the NVCJTA, unless such termination is the result of circumstances beyond one's control, the total cost of this training shall be due and payable to Arlington County Sheriff's Office. If the employee terminates employment after one (1) year and before two (2) years after completion of the NVCJTA, a prorated amount of the training costs will be due and payable to the Arlington County Sheriff's Office.
All new uniformed (sworn) Sheriff's Office employees must be non-smokers and are required to sign an agreement that they will not smoke on or off the job during their tenure of employment.
All new uniformed (sworn) Sheriff's Office employees may not have any tattoos visible (on head, neck or hands etc.) when wearing the long-sleeved shirt uniform.
Basic computer/data entry skills are required for the purposes of report writing and other documentation.
Most employees work 12-hour fixed shifts (including days, nights, weekends and holidays) and 15 days per month.- Additional Information
Please complete each section of the application. A resume may be attached, however, it will not substitute for the completed application. Your responses to the supplemental questionnaire are required for this position. Please do not give "see resume" as a response to the questions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application ProcessPre-registration is required and applications will only be accepted online.
NOTE: This position is listed as open until December 17, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. Applications are received and reviewed on a first-come first-served basis and this position may close immediately upon receiving a sufficient amount of applications and/or when the testing sessions become full. Therefore, we encourage applicants to submit applications as soon as possible.
After you have submitted your online application, it will be screened based on the minimum requirements in this announcement. If you successfully meet the selection criteria you will receive specific instructions by electronic mail about self-scheduling yourself for an upcoming written examination. Written examinations are scheduled approximately once per month, typically on a Saturday morning. Please be sure that you provide a valid e-mail address on your application in order to receive this important information. Please note: Applicants who do not pass the written test are eligible to re-apply and may re-test after a six-month waiting period.
Character/Background Investigation & Polygraph - Applicants who pass the written test will be responsible for downloading a character/background questionnaire to complete which must be returned within a specified time period.
The background investigation will be conducted by the Sheriff's Office, after a conditional offer of employment has been made, to include a polygraph examination administered by a licensed/certified polygraph examiner. Incomplete and/or inaccurate information on the background form may be cause for rejection. Candidates who do not successfully complete the background investigation are not normally allowed to re-apply. Background investigations require a good driving record and a clean criminal history. Candidates are unlikely to receive favorable consideration if they have engaged in activities that would support a felony conviction, have misdemeanor convictions for crimes relating to theft, domestic violence, or assault, have recent convictions for D.U.I. or D.W.I. or reckless driving, or multiple convictions for speeding or other moving violations. During the polygraph, applicants will be questioned in the following relevant areas: accuracy of information provided on applications and related documents; honesty, integrity and reliability of the applicant; criminal and traffic history, either previously detected or undetected; and involvement with illicit drugs. All questions will be discussed with the applicant by the polygraph examiner before the test starts and the applicant will be given the opportunity to clarify any potential problem areas.
After a conditional offer of employment has been made, the following may be scheduled:
- Photos, fingerprints - conducted by the Sheriff's Office
- Psychological Evaluation - conducted by a licensed psychologist
- Medical Examination
- Drug Test
Candidates who are proficient in both English and Spanish will be offered a Spanish oral proficiency examination after graduation from the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy. Deputy Sheriffs who pass the Spanish oral proficiency examination will receive language pay for all hours worked and for paid leave hours.
Each candidate must pass each component of the examination process before continuing to the next step. It takes approximately 10-16 weeks to complete the process. After successfully completing all steps, the candidate is placed on an unranked eligible list from which all Deputy Sheriff vacancies are filled for the duration of the eligible list.
New employees are initially appointed as Deputy Sheriff (Grade S2) at $25.72 per hour. With satisfactory performance, employees are considered for periodic increases. The probationary period for this position is one year after successful graduation from the Academy. During probation the employee must pass all requirements of the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy (24 week Academy) to receive certifications as a Jailer and Court Security/Civil Process Server and in law enforcement.